Interests:Family, friends, people, stuff of life in general --- past, present and future!

Posted 02 April 2012 - 1728 PM

While doing geneology searches I came across this interesting old obituary from 1956 of this Canadian born soldier and VC winner, Brig. Sinton, R.I.P.

*Obit VC (Victoria Cross) recipient Brig. SINTON 1956 WFP

Obit WFP March 27, 1956 page 14

Canadian-Born Brig. Sinton V. C. Dies In IrelandCOOKSTOWN. Northern Ireland (Reuters) – Brigadier John Alexander Sinton, distinguished Canadian-born soldier-doctor who won the Victoria Cross during the First World War,died at his home here Sunday. He was 71.Brig. Sinton who was born in British Columbia and was takento Northern Ireland at the age of six, won his VC as a captain inMesopotamia in 1916.In 1946 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society,select body of leading British scientists.

We are asking everyone to say a prayer for " Dark horse" 3rdBattalion 5th Marines and their families They are fighting it outin Afghanistan & they have lost 9 marines in 4 days. IT WOULD BE NICE TOSEE the message spread if more could pass it on. Nothing in the media aboutthese guys.

For almost half a century, Don Ritchie would approach people contemplating suicide at the edge of The Gap, just 50 metres from his home in Watsons Bay, his palms facing up.

Mr Ritchie told his daughter Sue Ritchie Bereny he would smile and say: "Is there something I could do to help you?"

"And that was all that was often needed to turn people around, and he would say not to underestimate the power of a kind word and a smile," said Ms Ritchie Bereny.

Mr Ritchie, sometimes known as the angel or watchman of The Gap, is acknowledged to have stopped about 160 people from jumping to their deaths.

He died at St Vincent's Hospital on Sunday, surrounded by his wife Moya, 85, daughters Jan, Donna and Sue, and four grandchildren, who travelled from across Australia and from Indonesia to Sydney to see him. He was 86.

Mr Ritchie was born on June 9, 1925 in Vaucluse, and studied at Vaucluse Public School and Scots College.When World War II broke out, he served in the Royal Australian Navy on HMAS Hobart, and was on the ship in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrendered in 1945.

From his 30s to his 60s, Mr Ritchie worked for a multinational firm and built up a significant career in the corporate world, Ms Ritchie Bereny said.

In 1964, the former life insurance salesman moved into a house on Old South Head Road across the road from Jacobs Ladder at the southern end of the Gap Park. It was his home till the end.

From that time, Mr Ritchie started to rescue suicidal strangers.

"Things were different way back then. It was before there were police rescue vans, before there were more sophisticated mechanisms like hotlines. In those days, he got a bravery medal for saving somebody at the cliff - he actually tackled somebody on the edge of the cliff," Ms Ritchie Bereny said.

"He is famous for bringing people back to the house for tea or breakfast."

In 2006 Mr Ritchie was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his rescues.His actions touched so many hearts that, in 2010, he and his wife were named Woollahra Council's citizens of the year.Last year, he was given the Local Hero Award for Australia by the National Australia Day Council.

"In a situation where most would turn a blind eye, Don has taken action ... With such simple actions Don has saved an extraordinary number of lives," the National Australia Day Council said.Today, Woollahra Council and the National Australia Day Council praised Mr Ritchie for his dedication.

"Don's story touched the hearts of all Australians and challenged each of us to rethink what it means to be a good neighbour," the acting chief executive of the National Australia Day Council, Tam Johnston, said in a statement."Don was a true gentleman with a smile that could light up the room."The mayor of Woollahra, Susan Wynne, called Mr Ritchie a great man whose "courage delivered small miracles".Mr Ritchie had joined mental health advisers and the federal Liberal member for Wentworth Malcolm Turnbull in supporting the funding of suicide prevention measures at The Gap.Mr Turnbull also praised Mr Ritchie.

"His work lives on forever not just in the lives of those he saved but in his heroism and example of public service," he said in a statement.

Ms Ritchie Bereny said her father was the best role model she could think of for her grandson."When the school that my grandson goes to asked me for input about what sort of child they might produce, I used him as a role model because there are lots of strong people in the world - but I think strength with compassion is what we should strive for."Last year, when he was involved in the launch to promote the Australian of the Year awards for 2012, he was asked to take one letter of the word Australia and pin to it a story that inspired him, Ms Ritchie Bereny said.

Mr Ritchie chose the story of Simpson and his donkey.

"I think that epitomises him. It's about an everyday person who did an extraordinary thing for many people that saved lives, without any want of recognition."

A service for Mr Ritchie will be held at the Naval Memorial Chapel at HMAS Watson, Watsons Bay at 1.30pm on Friday. There will be a celebration of his life after the service at the Rose Bay RSL.

Charles Durning, noted character actor, died on Christmas Eve, 2012. He was a veteran of the Normandy invasion, the fighting across France, and the Battle of the Bulge ( in which he was captured for a short time, but survived and escaped from a mass shooting of US prisoners by SS troops - not the Malmedy Massacre, but a smaller, similar episode ). He finished the war in an Army hospital, recovering from wounds received after his escape. He was awarded the Silver and Bronze Stars, as well as three Purple Hearts and various campaign ribbons and battle stars. Wikipedia has a pretty good article, but my computer has somehow lost the ability to cut and paste, so I can't include it here.

This Marine was a friend of my brothers and served with him in Iraq. He was severely injured in a suicide bombing. It hits very close to home because my brother was originally supposed to go out on that patrol, but at the last minute my brother was taken out and his friend put in his place.

This Marine was a friend of my brothers and served with him in Iraq. He was severely injured in a suicide bombing. It hits very close to home because my brother was originally supposed to go out on that patrol, but at the last minute my brother was taken out and his friend put in his place.

That has to be tough for your brother. This sort of circumstance is a time when faith helps; all things work to God's purposes. Your brother may be slated to do something very important in his life, and that may be why he was spared. Understandably, he may not yet be able to see it that way.

Walked many a time up and down the hill he led a bayonet charge to take, while I was in Korea. I embarrass myself that I had no idea of the history the ground I was treading on then. Hope to at-least partially-redress my embarrassed ignorance, and more-importantly to honor the man, by this post.